The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-02-12

might with unimpaired power. have
provided for himself, and he who is not
so well endowed with this worlds good.
that he may live without work, may
claim % participate in it's bounty; that
it is not required that he should be with
out property, but only that labor
should be necessary to his support in
some degree; nor is it required he should
be now receiving support from others.
Believing this to be the proper interpre.
talon of the bill, | can not but remem-
Der that the soldiers of our civil war, in
their pay and bounty, received such
compensation for military service as
has never been received by soldiers be-
fore since mankind first went to war
that never before on behalf of
any soldier, have so many and
such generous laws been passed
TO relieve against incidents of war
that the needy and homeless Union sol
.diers of the rebellion have been to a
large extent provided for at the Sol
diers' Homes, instituted and supported
by the government, where they are
maintained together, free from the
sense of degradation which at
taches to the usual support of
the country. Hitherto such relief
has been granted to surviving
soldiers, few in number, venerable IN
age, after a long lapse of time since
their military service, as parting ben
efaction rendered by grateful people.
L cannot believe that
lie THE VAST PEACEFUL ARMY
of Union soldiers who, having content
eddy resumed their places in the ordin-
airy avocatlons in lite, cherish as a
sacred memory patriot service, or who
having been disabled by the casualties
of war, Justly regard the present pen
sion roll, on which their names appear,
as a roll Of honor, desire at this time
and in the present contingency to
be COMPOUNDED with those who
through such bill as this, are willing
to be the objects of simple charity, and
to gain a place upon the pension roll
through alleged dependency. Recent
personal observation and experience
constrain me to refer to another result
which will inevitably follow the passage
of this bill. 1t is sad, but nevertheless
true, that already in the matter of pro
curing pensions, there exists q wide
spread disregard of truth aud good
faith, stimulated by those whom, as
agents, undertake to establish claims for
pensions, eedlessly entered upon by
the expectant beneficiary, encouraged
or almost not condemned by those un-
willing to obstruct his neighbor plans.
In the execution of this proposed
law, under any Interpretation, wide
field of inquiry would be opened
for the establishment of facts largely
within the knowledge of the claimants
alone. and there can be no doubt that
the race after pensi ms offered by this
bill would not only stimulate the
weakness of pretended incapacity
for labor, but be further
premium on dishonesty and men
dacity. The effect of no Invitations
to apply for pensions, or for new ad-
vantages added to the causes for the
pensions already existing is sometimes
startling. Thus in March,, 1879, large
arrearaSes of pensions were allowed to
be added to all claims filed prior to
July 1st, 1870 For the year from July
LIST, 1879, to July 1st, 1880, there were
filed lie, 673 claims, though in the year
Immediately previous there were but
sc, S32 fled and in the year following
but 1S,455. While the cost should not
be set against patriotic duty or
A RECOGNITION OF RIGHT,
still, when measure proposed is based
upon generosity or motives of charity,
it is not amiss to cogitate somewhat
upon the expense which it involves.
Experience has demonstrated, believe,
that all estimates concerning the prob
able future cost of the pension, list
are uncertain and unreliable and
always fall far below the actual
realization. The chairman of the House
committee on pensions calculates that
the number of pensions under this bill,
would be 81, los, and at an increased
annual cost of 81, 767 ,410 This is upon
the theory that only those who are
entirely unable to work would be its
benefciaries. Such was the prin-
cipal of the revolutionary pen
sion law of 1918, much more clearly
stated, it seems to me, than IN this bill.
When the law of 1918 was upon its pas
sage in Congress, the number
of pensioners to be benefited
thereby was thought to be 374 (?l,
but the number Of applicants
under the act was 22,297, and the num-
Der OF pensions .aCLua1ly alIOWeu was
204S5, costing, it is reported, for the
first year, 81, S47 300, instead of $4,000
estimated for that period. A law was
passed in 1856 for the benefit OF
surviving widows of revolution
ary soldiers who weraa married
after January LIST, 1909 1t was
estimated that they numbered 800 at
the time of the act; but the number OF
pensions allowed was 8 742 and the
amount paid for such pensions, during
the first year of the operation of the
act. was $l80,001 instead OF S24 COO, as
had been estimated.
MADE NO SEARCH
for other illustrations, and the above
being at hand are given as tending to
show that the estimates cannot be re
he'd upon in such cases, If none should
be pensioned under this bill except those
u terIy unable to work, l am satisfied
that the cost stated in the estimates re
ferred to would be many times multi
ped. and with constant increase
from year to year, and if those partially
unable to earn their own support
should be admitted to the privileges OF
this bill, the probable increase OF ex-
psnse would be almost Appalling q!
think it may be said that at the close OF